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Jl distoric Sketch 

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Company "6" 26tb Ohio 
Infantry 












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In the War for the Union 
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B9 Captain Welden Kdfy 


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Jl historic Sketch 

Lest We Torget 

Company *'€'' 26th Ohio 
Infantry 




In the War for the Union 
I86I-6S 



9 



By Captain Welden Helly 



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Lest We Totget the Wen 
of Company ''€" 



A Historical Sketch of Co. E, 26th Ohio 

\ olunteer Infantry 

About the fifth day of June, 1861, Sylvester M. Hewitt, 
assisted by several others, began the enlistment and organiza- 
tion of a company of volunteer infantry at Mt. Gilead, Morrow 
county, Ohio, under the first call of the President for three- 
year troops. Rapid progress was made and in a few days the 
good ladies of the community organized and prepared woolen 
underwear for the men. June 14th, 1861, the company, 
about 80* in number, formed on the North Public Square and 
marched to Gilead Station (now Edison), followed by nearly 
the entire people of the community. We boarded the train 
for Columbus and marched thence four miles west to the newly 
established Camp Chase, where the 23rd, 24th and 25th 
Ohio Infantrj' v/ere being organized, and their quarters par- 
'ially built. We were quartered in tents, and on the following 
day heavy details were made to commence building quarters 
for the 26th Ohio Infantry, the regiment to which our company 

♦While at Camp Chase the company was filled to the maxi- 
mum (101) 



HISTORY COMPANY E, TWENTY-SIXTH O. V, V. I. 

was assigned. Here our military education and discipline be- 
gan and was continued unceasingly under the wise direction 
of our Colonel E. P. Fyffe, a West Point graduate, and his 
able assistants, until its adhesiveness, confidence and valor made 
It a fighting machine so perfect that no censure or taint mars 
its history, but several general orders and many personal com- 
pliments mark its career. To this regiment we became com- 
pany E. The first commissioned officers of this company were 
elected after our arrival at Camp Chase, and were Captain 
Sylvester M. Hewitt, First Lieutenant Henry C. Brumback 
and Second Lieutenant James E. Godman. Captain Hewitt 
V. as promoted to Major and transferred to the 32nd Ohio In 
fantry, and James K. Ewart was commissioned Captain of 
company E, July 29th, 1861, the scime date that we left Camp 
Chase for Virginia. The Quartermaster's department was un- 
able to furnish regulation uniforms as fast as the new troops 
organized, hence our first uniforms consisted of gray pants and 
roundabouts. This caused great annoyance during the first 
two or three months of our service in Virginia by our troops 
mistaking us for the enemy and firing upon us. General J. D. 
Cox ordered that we be kept on inside duty until properly uni- 
formed. We anived at the front at Gav/ley Bridge, Virginia, 
August 1 1 th, 1 86 1 After our gray uniform experience we 
were continually in front in all the campaigns of the army in 
which we served. We remained in Virginia until February 
1st, 1862, and participated in the campaigns to Boon Court 
House, Sewal Mountain, Cotton Mountain, and Fayetteville 
and were engaged with the enemy at Horseshoe Bend, Sewal 

4 



HISTORY COMPANY E. TWENTY-SI.VTIl O. V. V. 1. 

Mountain and New River. The casualty of battle, however, 
was one. Corporal John McCauslcind, by concussion of a 
bursting shell, was seriously injured at Horseshoe Bend. Our 
loss from all causes was three deaths from disease and ten dis- 
charged because of disability. The company had seven de- 
serters during its entire service, but as none of them were of 
value to the company or government, we drop them at this 
early stage. Some of them, however, were carried on the roll 
to a later date. One only of this number enlisted from Mor- 
row county. The regiment was transferred to Louisville— 
"Way down in old Kentucky, 

Where they never have the blues. 
Where the Captains shoot the Colonels, 

And the Colonels shoot the Booze" — 
And marched to Bardstown where the regiment became part 
of the 15th brigade, commanded by General Milo Haskel; 
6th division, commanded by General Thos. J. Wood; army 
of the Ohio, commanded by General Don Carlos Buell. In 
this brigade* the 26th regiment remained during the entire war. 
the other three regiments forming the brigade leaving us at dif- 
ferent periods — the I 7th Indiana to Wilders Mounted Infantry, 
the 58th Indiana became the pontooniers of the army of the 
Cumberland, and the 3rd Kentucky was transferred to General 
Marker's brigade, remaining in the same division. In Febru- 
ary, 1862, the division moved on Bowling Green, thence to 

*In the reorganizations of tlie army it changed to different di- 
visions and corps and its number changed to correspond, regiments 
left and also other regiments joined, but at no time was the brigade 
organization brol<en np. 



HISTORY COMPANY E, TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

Nashville, Tenn., and from there was the 4th division in line 
of march, under Buell, to Pittsburg Landing, arriving on the 
field of battle as the enemy was leaving. Our wagons were 
left some miles in the rear, on the opposite side of the Tennessee 
River, and did not reach us for about ten days. We carried 
our rations from the Hamburg Landing to Ccunp — a distance 
of nearly four miles. In the slow approach of our army on 
Corinth, Miss., we were several times quite heavily engaged, 
skirmishing with the enemy, losing a few men from the regi- 
ment, but company E suffered no losses. On the evacuation 
by the Confederate forces we were moved eastward along the 
line of the Memphis & Charleston railroad, crossing to the , 
north side of the Tennessee River at Decatur, Alabama, abouc 
July 6th, 1862, thence through Huntsville northeast into Ten- 
nessee via Fayetteville, Winchester, Deckard and Hillsboro 
to McMinnville, on August 30th, 1 862, by a very rapid march 
of eight miles. Terminating by a double quick, we succeeded 
in striking Forest's cavalry, driving them so rapidly that we 
captured their ambulance, with medical supplies, and also one 
of the General's horses. For rapidity of march and prompt- 
ness in action the regiment was complimented in general orders 
by the division commander. September 2nd we started from 
McMinnville via Murfreesboro, Nashville, Bowling Green and 
Mumfordville, for Louisville, Ky., to intercept Bragg, who 
had invaded Kentucky through East Tennessee and was 
threatening Cincinnati and Louisville. We were the advance 
division under Buell, skirmished heavily with the enemy at 
Mumfordsville, reaching the Ohio River 20 miles below Louis- 

6 



HISTORY COMPANY E. TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

ville at dark, and, continuing the march during the night, 
reached Louisville, Ky., at 3 a. m., September 23rd, 1862. 
October 1st the army moved from Louisville, via Bardstown 
to Perryville, where, on October 8th, the battle of Perryville 
was fought. We were on the right in battle line under Gen- 
eral George H. Thomas and skirmished lightly with the enemy, 
expecting orders, which never came, to attack. We listened to 
the roar of the battle to our left and were not heavily engaged ; 
v;e followed the retreating enemy through Danville, skirmished 
heavily with them at Stanford and followed on southeast 
through Crab Orchard to about 30 miles beyond Mt. Vernon, 
when we were ordered back through Crab Orchard, via Co- 
lumbus, Ky., and Gallatin, Tenn., to Nashville. While at 
Nashville we were engaged in three skirmishes while scouting 
and guarding foraging trains. On Christmas day one of them 
occurred. We made a very long and hard march, returning to 
camp near midnight with wagon trains loaded with grain and 
other forage and found orders waiting us to have three days' 
rations in haversacks, strike camp and march at daylight the 
following morning, December 26th, 1862. This was the open- 
ing of the Stone River or Murfreesboro campaign. Our divis- 
ion was the second in line of march. Skirmishing in front soon 
begEui, Palmer's division gradually driving the enemy's cavalry. 
It began raining about 9 a. m. Near night the enemy became 
more obstinate, using artillery freely, and held the village of 
Lavergn, fifteen miles south of Nashville. Our division moved 
to the front and went into bivouac. The rain continued during 
the night. 

7 



HISTORY COMPANY E, TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

In rtie reorganization of the army under General Rosecrans 
we were in the First brigade. First division, Left wing. Army 
of the Cumberland. The Left wing had the direct line of 
march to Murfreesboro. The center under Thomas and right 
wing under McCook were several miles to our right and had a 
greater distance to move, hence we were held until 10 a. m. 
next morning before moving. Wood's division took the advance 
and our brigade deployed. The enemy, from an elevated 
position and under cover of buildings, firmly resisted our ad- 
vance, and we were compelled to charge the place, losing 32 
men from the brigade. Our regiment, making the direct at- 
tack, lost 28 of that number. By rapidly driving the enemy a 
distance of seven miles, we saved the bridge at Stewart's 
Creek and captured 50 or 60 prisoners. The weather became 
extremely cold. The next day, Sunday, the 28th, we remained 
in position, and Monday, the 29th, moved forward, our divis- 
ion on the left. Palmer's on the right of the pike, driving the 
enemy to their fortified line at Stone River. We remained in 
line of battle on the 30th, while Thomas and McCook closed 
up on our right and formed a continuous line. We received 
orders that night to cross the river, which the left of our division 
joined, and attack the enemy on the following morning. 
While executing this order the roar of the battle reached us 
from the extreme right of the army and our movements were 
by orders changed and we recrossed the river. General Bragg, 
during the day and night of the 30th, had moved the bulk of 
his army so that it reached far past our extreme right, and 
early commenced doubling our lines back from that flank; our 

8 



HISTORY COMPANY E. TWEXTY-SIXTH O. V. V. 1. 

regiment was placed in the line of battle to the right of Hazen's 
brigade, this being the point where the retrograde movement 
in our line ceased. This position, on an open plain, without 
protection, we he'd for several hours, repuls'.ng three seperate 
and distinct charges, exhausting our 60 rounds and being re- 
peatedl}' supplied by details sent from company. Thus for 
hours we held the key position of the battle, until a new line 
was established at nearly right angles with us. We spent the 
last night of 1862 on the battle front until near morning. In 
the reestablishm.ent of the line v.e were placed in the reserve 
and remained there during January 1, 1863. On the morning 
of January 2nd we occupied a position, the left of the regiment 
joining the Nashville and Murfreesboro pike, in an artillery 
duel fought by several batteries and an equal number of the 
enemy. In the forenoon we were in the direct line of shot and 
had several casualties m the regiment. This was the last day 
of heavy fighting, Bragg retreating on the night of the 3rd. 
Company E still retained its good luck, losing its command- 
ing officer* killed and six wounded, out of a total loss from the 
regiment of 1 02 during the campaign. 

The company, during the year 1862, from deaths, dis- 
charges and resignations, lost in all 27 men, leaving on the roll 
of the company 63. We remained camped at Murfreesboro 
until June 24th, drilling daily from 4 to 6 hours, when not on 
other duty. We were on several foraging and scouting ex- 



*lst Lieut. David McClellan of company G, was killed while in 
temporary command of company E. No officer belonging to the 
company being present. 



HISTORY COMPANY E. TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I, 

peditions during the time. By the President's orders the x:r.ry 
under General Rosecrans was named the Army of the Cumber- 
land and the parts that had formerly been known as center, 
right and left wing, were changed to the 1 4th, 20th and 2 1 st 
army corps, remaining under the Commanders Thomas, Mc- 
Cook and Crittenden. The brigade and division numbers were 
changed to conform to the corps organization. The 26th 
Ohio was part of the First brigade. First division, 21st army 
corps. 

In the Tullahoma campaign v/e failed in commg into 
direct contact with the enemy, Bragg retreating before we 
reached his lines, and our division was stationed at Pelham and 
Hillsboro, at the west slope of the Cumberland Mounta;ns, 
until August 16th, 1863, when the advance over the mountams 
commenced. We reached the Sequatchie Valley at Thur- 
man, marched down the valley and crossed the Tennessee 
River on flat boats at Shell Mound and held the advance on 
the direct line south of the Tennessee River to Chattanooga. 
The 26th Ohio was the advance regiment marching in column 
and company E the advance guard, and came around the 
point of Lookout Mountain in a skirmish line, extending far 
up the slope to near the upper palisade. After we came in 
sight of the city — or town, as it was at that time — and de- 
monstrated that the enemy was gone, a regiment of mounted 
infantry passed us. We, however, took possession and did 
the patrol duty, gathering in many prisoners during the after- 
noon and night of September 9th. On the following day we 
followed up the line of retreat of Bragg's army, passing 

10 



HISTORY COMPANY E. TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. 1. 

through Roseville Gap in Missionary Ridge, thence on the La 
fayette Road to Lee and Gordon's Mills at a ford of the 
Chickamauga River, where we remained until September 19th, 
skirmishing daily. For the purpose of demonstrating the sever- 
ity of loss and that the reader may more fully comprehend 
them, I will here, after its two-year-and-three-month service, 
all of it in actual war, most of it in very hard campaigning, 
show its strength: January 1st, 1863 (previously stated 63 
enrolled), increase by promotion and transfer, three;* making 
66; discharged in 1863, previous to September 19th, 1 1 men; 
there were on detached service at division headquarters 2; at 
Columbus, Ohio, one ; musicians 3 ; to the 8th Indiana Battery 
2, to Pioneer Battalion 3, teamsters 3, absent temporarily I , 
absent sick 8, present with the company 32. Company E 
went into the battle of Chickamauga with 2 officers and 30 
enlisted men. We plainly heard the roar of battle nearly four 
miles to our left, down the stream from us, or to the north (the 
Chickamauga flows north and we were on the west bank of 
the stream, fronting to the east), early in the forenoon, Satur- 
day, September 19th. This continued growing nearer until 
about 3 p. m., when we were ordered double quick to the left 
following the Chattanooga & Lafayette road in the -direction 
pf the heavy fighting, for near two miles or to the Vineyard 
farm. The regiment formed line of battle in the ordinary way 
of that date, two ranks touching elbows, in the timber facing 
east about 60 feet east of the road and parallel to it. We had 

*Our captain, 1st and 2nd Lieutenants haid each been promoted 
from other companies of the regiment and transferred to company 
E. 

II 



HISTORY COMPANY K. TWEXTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

no supporting line and were the extreme left of the brigade. 
In our rear across the road and parallel to it was a cleared field 
about 600 feet wide gently sloping from each side to a draw 
or ravine near its center. The place was strange to us. A 
line of our men was supposed to be in our front and extending 
to our left. The underbrush of and under the timber prevented 
us from seeing more than a short distance. We were ordered 
to fix bayonets and lie down. We formed the opinion that 
we were to make a charge. Colonel William H. Young in 
command of the regiment, says in his official report of the bat- 
tle that we numbered about 350. Colonel W. H. Fox, the 
great statistician, in his book, "Fighting Regiments," says the 
number was 362, but in a letter to the writer Colonel Fox 
says his figures must have been taken from the morning report. 
In his letter he gives company E 33 men, undoubtedly in- 
cluding the one absent guarding beef cattle, who would still be 
carried on the morning report. Three hundred and fifty men, 
the peer of any equal number in any one body that the United 
States had ever produced, with two and one quarter years' 
experience, all of it war, inured to hardship and danger, never 
having been repulsed or driven, thoroughly drilled and disci- 
plined, well officered, a perfect fighting machine! We heard 
the tramp of moving troops in our front, supposing it to be our 
oviTi men, but the enemy in full charge appeared in our im- 
mediate front and secured the advantage of the first volley. 
Quickly we responded with a rattling fire, not wailing for 
orders. Load and fire at will was the impulse and action of 
all. Commands could not be heard. The enemy's line was 

12 



HISTORY COMPANY E, TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

fairly repulsed and their second line had come to their assis- 
tance. We were holding our own and gradually gaining, 
with full confidence that we were whipping or gaining the fight. 
During this period of time our division and brigade commanders 
were sending orders for us to fall back — our left flank was being 
turned — but orders were slow in reaching us. Horses could 
not live to carry them on that bloody field, our regimental field 
officers were quickly dismounted and in the furry of that 
musketry the word had to be passed along the line that our 
f^ank was exposed and we must retreat across the field. Grad- 
ually that fine moved back to the road where all could see the 
line of gray already swinging across the open to our left. A hasty 
retreat was made to the fence on the opposite or west side of 
the field, where, with a promptness under fire never excelled, 
the regiment rallied and agam opened on the enemy, which 
lasted but a few minutes, when remforcements (a brigade from 
Sheridan's division), came rushing to our left. We recrossed 
the field, driving the enemy beyond our first position in the 
timber on the east side of the road, for hours without protec- 
tion of any kind, at very close range. We had contended for 
the position of that road, and as the sun closed its gaze by 
passing behind the western hills we were masters of the situ- 
ation. Over half of the company had fallen in two or three 
hours, desperate fighting, not as Greek meets Greek but as 
Americans meet Americans. Go view the fields, ye good 
people of Morrow County! Stand by that monument erected 
by the great State of Ohio to the memory of the 26th, 212 
of whom fell in that blody battle, three-fourths of them un- 

13 



HISTORY COMPANY E. TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

doubtedly on the Vineyard Farm, and then, but a few yards 
away, see the one erected by the State of Georgia in mem- 
ory of the 20th regiment infantry, C. S. A., from that state, 
and read their inscription ("This regiment went into battle 
with 23 officers; of this number I 7 were killed and wounded"), 
and then read Vanhorn's description. In speaking of that part 
of the battlefield (the Vineyard Farm) he says: "Mapped 
upon field and forest in glarmg insolation by the bodies of the 
slain." Chaplam Thomas B. Vanhorn was General Thomas' 
chosen historian. He superintended the moving of the bodies 
of the slain from Chickamauga to the National Cemetery at 
Chattanooga. As daylight faded and darkness began we closed 
pur lines to the right, sent one guard from each company fifty 
paces to the front and supplied ourselves with a double quan- 
tity of cartridges. One cavalryman came to each company, se- 
cured their canteens, went to Crawfish Springs, over a m:le 
away, and returned them to us filled v/ith much-needed water. 
Thus the good Samaritan act was performed by them. 

Soon a temporary truce was formed, details made, and 
Johnnie and Yank were soon mingled together, caring for the 
wounded as best they could. At about 2 or 3 a. m., Sunday 
morning, orders were quietly whispered along the line to pre- 
pare to move, and very soon the line silently moved to the left 
a distance of nearly two miles and was halted on the east slope 
of Missionary Ridge, nearly a mile north of the Widow 
Glenn house, and we were informed that we were to be the 
reserve. This position we held until 9 or 9:30 a. m., when we 
were moved to the front line. Wood's division relieving that 

14 



HISTORY COMPANY E. TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

of General Negley. The 26th Ohio was about one-fourth 
mile southwest of the Brotherton house, it being the extreme 
right of the division. The losses of the previous day had 
shortened the division line until we failed in filling the space 
vacated by Negley, and m order to do so extended to the 
right to reach the left of McCook, until our line became atten- 
uated. We heard the roar of the battle to our left gradually 
coming nearer; we were heavily skirmishing with the enemy 
while in this condition about II a. m. when General Wood re- 
ceived written orders from General Rosecrans "to close up 
on Reynolds and support him." A division line of battle, as 
we formed at that time, was half a mile or more. Reynolds 
commanded the 2nd division at our left, Brannon's intervening. 
Hence Wood, when he executed the order, m.oved in rear of 
and parellel to Brannon, we being the extreme right of Wood, 
by moving in column to the left, the 8th Indiana Battery in 
our immediate front. When we had marched nearly half a 
division length, the battery, in its difficulties, having no road in 
the timber, much of it heavy underbrush with bad ravines 
to cross, delayed the two regiments in the rear, while the head 
of the column was hastening to the support of Reynolds. This 
had left us far in the rear. In this condition we received the 
enemy's charge. Natually and rightly, all that could followed 
the head of column as per orders. We of the 26th Ohio and 
13th Michigan, in the extreme rear, were compelled to stop 
and repulse the charge, thereby becoming isolated from all our 
commands and in the center of that one-half-mile gap that was 
created by a mistaken order and resulted in dividing the army. 

15 



HISTORY COiMPANY E. T\VEXTY-SIX.TH O. V. V. I. 

As soon as the battery extricated itself from its difficulties. 
Colonel Young, our regimental commander, ordered us to 
fall back. It was useless sacrifice to do otherwise. We were 
halted several times at favorable localities to check the enemy, 
and that gallant band of heroes, if you please, held its organi- 
zation under as trying circumstances as war produces, its last 
stand bemg made upon the side of a spur of Missionary Ridge, 
where a tablet now stands to mark its heroism. Here we held 
position for nearly an hour, aided by the 8th Indiana and 6th 
Ohio Batteries. To our left the right of Brannon's division 
v/as flanked and to protect itself swung back to the north. To 
our right the left of Davis' division was flanked and to 
protect itself swung back to the south, thus widening the gap 
and leaving us that much farther from support on either side, 
the enemy advancing, takmg protection of timber to the south 
and also to the north of us, gaining our flanks, and we were 
compelled to abandon our position. Here the 8th Indiana 
Battery by its loss of horses was compelled to abandon their 
pieces. We retreated to the dry valley road and thence witn 
Sheridan and Davis to Roseville. Our part in the batlle of 
Chickamauga was over. 

Colonel Fox, under the head of "maximum percentage of 
casualties in a single engagement under circumstances showing 
that few if any of the missing were captured men," places the 
26th Ohio thirty-fifth in the list of over two thousand regiments 
that were in the service during the war of the rebellion, and, 
basing his estimates on 362 engaged and the total loss 212, 
as previously stated, at 58.5 per cent. Basing the estimates 

16 



HISTORY COMPANY E, TWEXTY'-SIXTII O. V. V. I. 

on Colonel Young's report of 350 engaged, total loss 213, 
gives us a small fraction of over 60 per cent. Of this, com- 
pany E lost 20, or even 62.5 per cent, 12 of whom were 
killed or mortally wounded — 37.5 per cent. The killed and 
mortally wounded were: First Lieutenant Francis M. Wil- 
liams, First Sergeant William H. Green, Sergeant Silas Stucky, 
Corporal Luther Reed, and Privates Moses Aller, William 
Calvert, John Blaine, James R. Goodman, Charles A. R. 
Kline, Samuel Neiswander, Emanuel W. Stahler and Rob- 
ert W. Stonestreet. The wounded were: Coporal James 
W, Clifton, Privates William H. H. Geyer, Henry C. 
Latham, McDonald Lottridge, Joseph L. Rue, Henry Stove- 
nour, Adelphus E. Stewart and Isaiah Sipes. 

Others m the company were painfully wounded, but are 
not mcluded m the list, as they remamed and contmued domg 
duty. Only one, William H. H. Geyer, recovered sufficient- 
ly during the remainder of his enlistment to rejoin the company 
for duty. Of the killed, by examining the "Roster of Ohio 
Soldiers" (published by the State of Ohio), you will find four, 
viz. : Silas Stucky, Moses Aller, John Blaine and Emanuel W. 
Stahler, reported missing. This is misleading. Kindly re- 
member that the temporary truce was formed that night soon 
after the heavy fighting ceased and we closed our thinned 
column to right. We were nearly a quarter of a mile south of 
where our terrible losses had occurred and but few men were 
permitted to leave the line. Our band boys, who usually 
cared for the wounded, had lost, killed and wounded, nine 
of their number. They were largely Sheridan's men, strang- 

17 



HISTORY COMPANY E. TWBx\TY-SIXTH 0. V. V. I. 

ers to us, who gathered up our wounded, placed them in ambu- 
lances and sent them to the Crawfish Spring field hospital, 
which fell into the enemies hands the following day, and we 
saw that part of the Vineyard Farm no more for several months. 
McDonald Lottridge, who on account of wounds never re- 
joined his company, saw Moses Aller fall and was satisfied 
from his actions that he was shot m the head. Joseph Wil- 
liams of Company K, (a brother of Lieutenant Francis Wi!- 
liam.s of our company), while lying wounded in a fence cor- 
ner by the side of John Blaine, adjusted a knapsack under 
Blaine's head, and says he: "Blame was shot through the 
breast," and could have lived but a short time. Members of 
the regimental band, whose duty it was to gather up the 
wounded, claim to have seen the bodies of Silas Stucky and 
Emanuel W. Stabler dead upon the field. These four men 
of the company are reported to be missmg in the "Roster of 
Ohio Soldiers." Neither of them has been heard of smce the 
battle, hence there can be no doubt that they were numbered 
with the slain. In 1861, while in Virginia, a man of the regi- 
ment returned from a hospital at Charleston and reported that 
James D. Dickerson of company E had died. The officers 
dropped his name from the records. He (Dickerson) soon 
after reported for duty and his name was replaced on the 
records. This mcident aids in explammg why their names 
appear among the missing. A large per cent of the Union 
dead remained unburied until we came in possession of the 
battlefield after the battle of Chattanooga or until about De- 
cember 1st. Two brigades of our army were sent to the fields 

18 



I 



■ ■ \ 

HISTORY COMPANY E, TWIiXTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

for that purpose. The following day, September 1st, we were 
in the regular line of battle on Missionary Ridge, north of 
Roseville Gap, and offered battle to the enemy. During the 
night we formed a line of battle closer to Chattanooga, the 
flanks touching the Tennessee River, above and below. Our 
position was at Fort Wood, which we aided in building, due 
east of the town. 

In the reorganization of the army, the 20th and 21st 
army corps were practically consolidated and formed the 4th 
corps. In this organization we became part of the 2nd brigade, 
commanded by General Geo. D. Wagner, 2nd division com- 
manded by Major General P. H. Sheridan. Our regiment 
was taken out of the line of battle and camped in the town and 
heavy details made from it to guard the supply trains to Bridge- 
port, Ala., and return. It was our understanding at the time 
that we were to be detached from the brigade and become a 
part of the local garrison. We having been the first to oc- 
cupy and patrol the place, we felt that it was due us, and 
having been so fearfully mangled at Chickamauga it would 
give time to partially recuperate, but Sheridan objected, stat- 
ing that such regiments, full of experience, could not be spared 
from the front, and we were soon doing picket duty. No 
supplies could be furnished by the country to which we had 
access. The road traveled to bring them was a mountainous 
one and sixty miles to railroad. The mules were shortly fed 
and heavily worked. The rainy season opened and our ra- 
tions grew less and less until a half ration was issued to the 
men. Bacon was not issued, but fresh beef was used in its 

19 



HISTORY COMPANY E, TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

place. The cattle were driven from the Ohio river, a dis- 
tance of near 400 miles, and grazing in the mountainous coun- 
try was not well calculated to produce fat. Hence we got 
the expression, which originated at Chattanooga during the 
siege, "beef dried on the hoof." This was the situation when 
General Thomas telegraphed Grant: "We can hold the 
place till we starve." Over ten thousand horses and mules 
died during the siege and those that survived were in no con- 
dition for service. 

October 27th, by a brilliant movement, Thomas 
at Chattanooga and Hooker at Bridgeport Co-operat- 
ing, we gained possession of the river from Brows Ferry west, 
giving us water transportation to within nine or ten miles, and 
in a few days the soldiers were on full rations. The horses 
and mules did not fare so well. Bragg's army largely out- 
numbered that of General Thomas, for, be it understood, his 
(Bragg's) army of the Tennessee had, before the battle cf 
Chickamagua, been reinforced by Buckncr's army of East Ten- 
nessee. Two divisions of Joe Johnson's army of Mississippi 
and Longstreet's entire corps from Lee's army of Virginia and 
also a large per cent of the parolled prisoners from Vicksburg 
had joined him. Hooker, with 15,000 from the Potomac 
army, had partially joined us and we were expecting Sher- 
man with 20,000 to arrive soon. Activity with us com- 
menced, indicating an offensive movement. We had been un- 
der the lire of the enemy's guns since September 19th. Sher- 
man was delayed by heavy rains and high waters. Under 
Grant's instructions Thomas ordered the two divisions of the 

20 



I 



HISTORY COMPANY E, TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

4th corps, Sheridan and Wood, to advance and drive the ene- 
my from their outer line and capture Orchard Knob. This 
movement was made about 3 p. m. November 23d, and was 
the opening of the battle of Chattanooga. Our losses were 
nearly two hundred, mostly from Wood's division, none from 
company E. We occupied our new position three-eighths of 
a mile south of Orchard Knob, one mile west emd in plain 
view of the enemy's line of works at top and fool of Mis- 
sionary Ridge, and were under the fire of their field and siege 
artillery during the 24th, listening to and watching Hooker's 
fight above the clouds on Lookout Mountain, and remained 
in this position on the 25 th, watching Sherman's battle at the 
north end of Missionary Ridge until 3 p. m. or perhaps later. 
Between our position and the ridge was a plain, partly open 
and part timber, most of the timber having been recently cut 
by the Confederates. All the fences were gone. Missionary 
Ridge lies nearly north and south and extends from the Ten- 
nessee River at the north many miles south. Its average ele- 
vation is 600 feet above the plain and the distance from base 
to summit near one-fourth of a mile. About 2 p. m. each 
man was notified that when six shots were fired in regular suc- 
cession from the artillery on Orchard Knob we were to move 
forward in order, keeping well our alignment, and take the 
Confederate works at the foot of the ridge. A tiresome wait 
of one or two hours followed. The men's faces became pale, 
but firm pressure of the lips showed the determination. The 
time passed slowly, for the mental strain was great. Finally, 
the signal came, carefully counted by each, and when the sixth 

21 



HISTORY COMPANY E, TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

sounded all- stepped over our temporary works and moved for- 
ward. 

The enemy's artillery promptly opened in full force 
from the top of the ridge, the shells exploding all around us. 
A file or two of men fell near the colors. The men began quick- 
ening the step — no pale faces nov^ — the excitement of battle 
was on. You could constantly hear the officers' command — 
"Steady men! Go slow!" Time flew by like a dream. The 
enemy's line in the lower works at the foot of the ridge became 
demoralized and they left before we reached them. The re- 
verse side of their works offered us no protection from the ar- 
tillery and infantry fire from the top, and by a common im- 
pulse, without orders, we continued the charge up the side 
of the ridge. We had the usual double line formation, the 
26th Ohio in the front line, the 15th Indiana supporting 150 
to 200 paces in the rear. We were to a great extent winded, 
having made the last three or four hundred yards double quick; 
We moved up the hills slowly, loading and firing, taking ad- 
vantage of such protection as was available. The enemy was 
at this time largely overshooting us and the 1 5ih Indiana, in 
our rear, was suffering heavily. When half or two-thirds the 
way up the ridge they came forward to our assistance where 
they could take part in the shooting. Lieutenant Wm. B. 
Johnson of company E went down with a shattered leg and 
ordered his First Sergeant to go on with the company, but 
to see that he was cared for that night. We reached the ene- 
my's works and captured them, taking a few prisoners, most of 
the enemy escaping down the eastern slope of the ridge, which 

22 



HISTORY COMPANY E, TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

was not so precipitous as the western which we had come up. 
The road leading from General Bragg's headquarters, (about 
three hundred yards south of where our regiment reached the 
top), going east down the slope, was the only way available 
for the Confederates' artillery to make their escape. Gen- 
eral Sheridan, quick to seize and hold the advantage, came to 
the left of his division and ordered Colonel Young, with his 
26th Ohio and the 15 th Indiana, to hasten northeast down 
the slope and capture all we could reach or head from the 
road mentioned. This we did for nearly a mile, gaining two 
brass guns at one place, four brass and two Parrott guns, sev- 
eral caissons and limbers at another. The troops of Wood's 
division to our left advanced but a short distance after reach- 
ing the top of the ridge and were recalled. A quarter of a 
mile or more of gap now existed between our right and the 
brigade, which was advancing in line along the road men- 
tioned and became heavily engaged. Sheridan sent orders 
for us to oblique to the right. It was now dark and under 
Colonel Young's directions we moved carefully and slowly 
over ravines, through brush, guided by the sound of battle, 
striking the enemy's line on an abrupt knob, which we, with- 
out hesitation or any delay, charged, and captured two more 
pieces of artillery and many wagons. General Sheridan, in 
his official report of the battle, in speaking of this part of the 
engagement states: "But a few moments elapsed ere the 
26th Ohio and 15th Indiana carried the crest. When the 
head of the column reached the summit of the hill the moon 
rose from behind and a medallion view of the column was 

23 



HISTORY COMPANY E, TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

disclosed as it crossed the moon's disk and attacked the ene- 
my." 

Our part in the battle was over. That the reader may 
more fully understand the important part taken by us I will 
give a few statistics taken from official records: Loss of Sher- 
idan's 2nd division 4th army corps, 1346, the heaviest in any 
division of the army. Wood's 3rd division, 4th army corps, 
came second, with 1035. Our 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 
4th army corps, lost 730. There were three brigades in each 
division. The next brigade to ours in loss was General Haz- 
en's 2nd Brigade, 3rd (Wood's) division, 4th army corps, 522. 
That magnificent 1 5th Indiana regiment that was in the second 
line supporting us, that came so gallantly to our aid and so 
nobly stayed with us (see official report), went into the battle 
with 334 officers and men, and of this number its loss was 199 
killed and wounded, the heaviest regimental loss in the battle. 
The three regiments sustaining the greatest loss were all in our 
brigade. The 26th Ohio numbered present about 1 50 and 
lost 36. Company E, 13 engaged, loss 5. All of them had 
participated with the company at Chickamauga. Thus of the 
32 engaged on September 19, seven were left, two of whom 
were later killed in battle while with the company. James H. 
Smith was shot, a minnie (I oz. ) ball passing through his leg 
while we were going up the ridge. He examined the wound 
and remained with the company, the blood spurting from the 
top of his shoes at each step until he was ordered to the hos- 
pital by Colonel Young after the battle was over. No or- 
ganization in the battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga 

24 



HISTORY COMPANY E. TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

carried their banner higher on the roll of fame than did the 
26th Ohio. 

The following day, November 26, the two divisions, 
Sheridan's and Wood's, of the 4th corps, were ordered to 
march to relieve General Burnside, besieged at Knoxville. We 
were expected to live largely from the products of the country 
(now largely exhausted). We had drawn no clothing since 
leaving Murfreesboro in June. Our mules and horses were 
either dead or unfit for service. We were short on clothing 
and transportation. We left our camp in Chattanooga and 
saw it no more until January 1 8, 1 864. This was a memora- 
ble and a cold winter, with its historic cold New Year's day. 
We marched through the day and part of the time gathered 
corn, shelled it and ran the water mills, of which that coun- 
try was plentifully supplied. During the night, when we could, 
we built log-heap fires, and when the ground had become 
thoroughly warm, we divided the fire, cleaned away the coals 
and ashes and slept on the warm ground between the two 
fires. January 1st, while at Blams Crossroads, northeast of 
Knoxviile, the regiment veteranized or re-enlisted and was or- 
dered home on thirty days' furlough. We marched to Chat- 
tanooga, arriving on the 18th, completed our papers and were 
mustered January 2 1 , starting home by freight soon afterward. 

We left Columbus, Ohio, on our return to the front, 
about March 4th, joining our brigade at Charleston, Ten- 
nessee, about March 1 5th. In April we moved to Cleveland. 
Tennessee, and from there started on the Atlanta campaign. 
May 3rd, and came under the fire of the enemy's guns May 

25 



HISTORY COMPANY E, TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

7th, and remained in hearing of their guns and under fire until 
September 5th — at least over one hundred days under fire. 
We (our brigade) advanced along the Eastern slope and near 
the summit of Rocky Face Ridge, supporting Harken's bri- 
gade, moving along the summit, assaulting the main line of 
works. We came under the direct fire from their main line, 
but were restrained from assaulting. We held this position 
until Sherman's entire army (except part of the cavalry and 
our 4th corps), had moved south along the west base of the 
ridge to Snake Creek Gap and through it to near Resaca, 
when Johnson abandoned his fortified position at Rocky Face 
and hastily retreated, we following on the direct line of his 
retreat and on arrival joining at once in the battle of Resaca, 
driving the enemy's lines into their fortifications. We built 
a temporary line of works within 200 yards of theirs, holding 
this position until they again retreated. The night of May 15, 
bridges were floated and the Oostanaula River crossed, the 
4th corps taking the advance, driving Johnston's rear guard. 
On the 17th, our division (Newton now commanding, Sher- 
idan having been ordered to the Eastern department) was in 
the advance. One brigade deployed. In the evening two 
brigades were deployed and the enemy's lines driven until a 
line of works was developed. Artillery was freely used, the 
26th Ohio losing over twenty men. Darkness closed the fight- 
ing and in the morning their works were abandoned, we fol- 
lowing, bivouacking the night of the 18th near Kingston, 
Ga. The 19th we advanced on Cassville, the enemy stub- 
bornly resisting, and in the evening a general line of battle was 

26 



HISTORY COMPANY E, TWEXTY-SIXTH O. V. V. T. 

formed. They were again fortified and as before, during the 
night, abandoned them and crossed the Etowah River. Here 
we were delayed until the railroad bridges could be rebuilt 
and supplies reach us. May 23rd we crossed the river, 
keeping to the west of the Altoona Mountains in the direc- 
tion of Dallas, the 20th corps under Hooker having the ad- 
vance on the road to New Hope Church, where several roads 
formed a junction. In the effort to reach this point Hooker 
became heavily engaged and we, the nearest division of the 
corps and army, were rushed to his aid, and just as twilight 
faded into darkness, in the midst of a very heavy rain, thun- 
der and lightning storm and the roar of artillery and crash of 
musketry, we closed upon Hooker's left within 300 yards of 
the enemy's main line of works. Here we fortified and re- 
mained under their fire and responded to it until June 6th. 
Johnston having retreated, we moved to near Ackworth, on the 
railroad, south of Altoona. Here we rested until the 10th. 
We moved forward southeast, heavily skirmishing almost con- 
tinuously, the artillery firing constantly, to Pine Mountain, Lost 
Mountain, Muddy Creek and Kenesaw, each of these being 
thoroughly fortified. We reached the west slope of the latter 
June 20th, and on the 22nd drove the enemy's skirmishers into 
their main line. While holding our position and building rifle 
pits for our pickets, Daniel Densel of company E was mor- 
tally wounded. Our division formed the assaulting column of 
the 4th corps June 27th. Company E had one wounded. 

I dislike to leave this heroic assault without a short de- 
scription. The ground in our front was heavily timbered, de- 

Ti 



HISTORY COMPANY E, TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

scending for 200 yards to a ravine, thence a thirty per cent 
rising grade for 300 yards to their hne of works, consisting of 
heavy embankment with head logs, so mounted as to give space 
for firing underneath. A wide and deep ditch was in front 
of the works. A large share of the timber was felled with 
tops down the hill, all twigs and light limbs cut off, so that 
in advance up to their works haste or alignment was an im- 
possibility. Through this in double column we struggled, a 
few of the men falling very near the ditch and others actually 
reaching their embankment, but they could not reach them in 
mass sufficient to drive the enemy. A new stand of colors, 
presented to the regiment by the ladies of Chillicothe, Ohio, 
was carried mto this desperate charge. The color sergeant 
was killed and several of the color guards killed and wounded 
and the staff of the colors was shot in three places with fifty- 
seven bullet holes through the colors. Go see the flag m the 
State House, Columbus. The marks on the staff are still 
showing. 

Sherman continued fortifying and lengthening his battlc- 
hne to the right (nearly south), until the morning of July 2d, 
when we found the Confederate lines were vacated. We fol- 
lowed close to their rear guard, about seven miles to "Smirny 
Camp Grounds," where we became quite strongly engaged, 
driving their rear and developing a strong line of works. Here 
we Vi'ere held with very brisk skirmishing until July 5th, losing 
a few men from the regiment on the 4th. Again we moved 
briskly south, hoping to meet our enemy m the confusion of 
crossing the Chattahoochee River, but we failed. From the 

28 



HISTORY COMPANY E. TWEXTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

bluffs on the north side of the river we first saw Atlanta, ten 
miles away, while here the non-veterans (those that did not re- 
enlist), were ordered to Chattanooga and mustered out, the 
veterans and recruits holding the company and regimental or- 
ganization. On the 1 6th we crossed the river, advancing slow- 
ly that the army of the Tennessee and Ohio (McPherson and 
Scholield), who had a greater distance to move, might be near- 
er. On the 20th we crossed Peach Tree Creek and gained a 
ridge about half a mile south, when our division of the 4th 
and the 20th corps were to establish a line. The Confederate 
army, now commanded by General Hood, had concentrated 
m front of this position, intending to crush us while we were 
in the confusion of crossing the stream, and did make a most 
furious attack when but part of the line had gained position. 
Those not in line, being close, countercharged, driving the 
enemy and establishing a connected line. Hood repeated the 
assault, but was at every point repulsed. Thus less than half 
of the army of the Cumberland alone, without fortifications and 
hardly an equal show with the enemy, lacking a completed line 
at the opening, thoroughly repulsed the combined strength of 
Hood's army. On the 22nd we advanced in line to the front 
of the main fortifications around Atlanta. The army of the 
Tennessee, in the effort to close to our left, fought the battle 
of Atlanta, their commander. General McPherson, being 
among the slain. We skirmished very heavily and were under 
the direct fire of their artillery from the main line of fortifica- 
tions in front of the city. This continued more or less until 
August 26th. The army of the Tennessee, now under the 

29 



HISTORY COMPANY E, TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. T. 

command of General Howard, moved to the extreme right. 
The army of the Ohio, under General Schofield, a few days 
later did the same. This left our division the extreme left of 
Sherman's army. We readjusted our line of fortifications, 
making a refused flank with completely inclosed forts supplied 
with surplus ammunition, water and food. Sherman's flank 
movement by the right to the south of Atlanta commenced on 
A.ugust 25th by withdrawing our 4th corps to the rear of the 
20th corps and moving it (the 20th) to and across the Chat- 
tahoochee River with all surplus trains and artillery, we the 4th 
corps continuing to move to the right, on the following day pass- 
ed beyond the extreme right of Hood's army and on the 28th 
advanced to the Mount Gilead Church, skirmishing heavily and 
driving the enemy across the West Point railroad. On the 
29th and 30th, continuing the movement, we gained posession 
of the Macon railroad, thus severing the last line leading from 
the city, and September 1st, until about 4 p. m., we were 
burning the ties and heating and twisting the rails, moving 
south as we did so, and by so domg were prevented from, 
reaching Jonesboro in time to envelop the flank of Hardee's 
corps. We were rushed hastily into position and were driving 
their shattered flank when darkness and the entanglement of 
brush, ravines, etc., and the danger of coming into conflict with 
our troops closed the movement. In the mornmg we found 
the enemy had fled. During the night we heard the explosion 
of the magazmes and trains of ammunition at Atlanta, over 
twenty miles away. We followed Hood south to Lovejoy 
Station, when we drove their skirmishers and outposts into 

30 



HJSTOllY COMPANY E, TWEXTY-SIXTK O. V. V. I. 

their main line of works. We remained in front of them until 
the 5th, when we withdrew and marched back to Atlanta, 
where we remained in camp until about the 20th. During our 
stay at this place official reports were made covering the losses 
of each organization during the Atlanta Campaign. I have 
not access at this writing to those reports as published in the 
war records. The 26th Ohio had killed and wounded, as of- 
ficially reported, I I 7.* Of this number company E lost but 
two, one mortally wounded, one wounded. Clark became 
captain of the company in December, 1862. He was on de- 
tached service, commanding a battalion of pioneers, and did 
not join the company and regiment until we veteranized in 
January, 1864. In May, 1864, he was placed in command 
of the brigade battalion of pioneers, consisting of twenty pri- 
vates, two corporals, one sergeant and one commissioned of- 
ficer from each regiment of the brigade or about 1 75 in all. 
Company E was made the detail from the 26ih and we were 
ertempt from picket or skirmish duty. V/e were required to 
each carry either a pick, shovel or ax in addition to that re- 
quired of each soldier. Cur place was with our regiment, 
but subject to call to any point, to build fortification rifle pits 
or to open or repair roads. We might justly com-pare our in- 
dustry to that of the honey bee. During that campaign we 
stopped work only long enough to take part in the fighting and 
some of the time were using tools when the shell and minme 
were adding impetus to our mental and muscular skill. About 
the close of the Atlanta campaign Captain Clark became the 

'Official rp])ort of Geneiul Wagner, our brigadn commamler. 

31 



HISTORY COMPANY E, TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

commander of the regiment and was soon afterward promoted 
to Lieutenant Colonel and continued in command until mustered 
out with the regiment. 

About September 25th Hood's flank movement around 
Atlanta had advanced so that Sherman divined his intentions 
and ordered our division north by rail to Chattanooga. The 
26th Ohio was thrown in the lead (advance guard) on two 
passenger coaches, each man v/ith loaded gun ready for im- 
mediate action. The division followed by freight trains in sec- 
tions. On arriving at Chattanooga we were kept on trains 
much of the time and moving from place to place between 
Dalton and Bridgeport, many times nearly smothered with 
smoke as we rode on top of the cars through the tunnel under 
Missionary Ridge. After Hood moved west into Alabama 
we started to join the main army west of Rome, Ga., where 
orders met us by which we crossed Lookout and Sand Moun- 
tains to Stevason, Ala., where we were mustered for pay Oc- 
tober 31, going from there by rail to Athens, Ala., thence 
marched to Pulaski, Tenn., thus placing ourselves between 
Hood, now at Florence, Ala., and Nashville, Tenn. We held 
this position until Hood advanced via Columbia. We moved 
October 2 1 to Lineville and to Columbia on the 23rd formed 
line of battle, each flank reaching Duck River, one above the 
other, below the town. This position we held, skirmishing 
lightly, until the night of the 27th when we crossed to the 
north bank. Early in the morning of the 29th, Thomas at 
Nashville ordered General Schofield (in direct command at 
Columbia) to fall back to Franklin. The trains, over eight 

32 



HISTORY COiMPAXY E. TWP^XTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

hundred wagons, were started on the Nashville pike. When 
the head of this train reached Spring Hill, eleven miles away, 
they were stopped by the enemy's cavalry. Our division. Gen- 
eral Wagner commanding, hastened to the relief of the train, 
arriving about I p. m., Opdyke's brigade leading, and drove 
the enemy out of the town north. Bradley's brigade, the sec- 
ond in line of march, formed line facing east and advanced 
nearly a mile, our brigade. Colonel Lane commanding, form- 
ing the reserve. The 26th Ohio soon after was ordered to ex- 
tend the skirmish line east of the pike farther south and take 
possession of and hold a dirt road coming into the pike over 
a mile south. At this place we were located near a cotton gin. 
on which an outlook was posted, who soon reported Confed- 
erate troops in sight. We built a rail barricade, each man 
got out of cartridge box and bit off ten cartridges and made 
all the arrangements we could for rapid firing. The gray lines 
could be seen by Sergeant Hall (the outlook) for a long dis- 
tance and he kept posting us as to their movements. He held 
his post too long and was killed in the effort to reach us at ttie 
barricade. It v/as undulating farm land where we were 
located, with timber showing south of us and also in our rear 
three-fourths of a mile or one-fourth west of the pike. We 
could see the gray lines east of us. at some places half a mile 
away, as they v/ere advancing, but owing to the roll of the 
land they passed out of our view nearly one-fourth of a mile 
in front or east of us and did not appear again until less 
than one hundred yards away. We opened fire and effect- 
ually stopped them m our front and temporarily to right and 

33 



HISTORY COMPANY E, TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

left, but to our left, north of us, they soon pressed forward, 
passing directly between us and Spring Hill. Wagnei, 
seeing our situation from his position, over a mile away, 
rushed a battery forward and opened fire, we getting the 
effect as well as our enemy between us and the guns. We 
held this position until all or nearly all had consumed their 
ten rounds, when Captain Clark gave the order to escape i( 
possible. In doing this we obliqued to the southwest to es- 
cape a heavy fire now reaching us from the north and the 
quicker to get protection from the rolling ground. While 
the battery held them in check we crossed the pike and made 
a complete half circle to reach Spring Hill, which we did, los- 
ing 7/ men from the regiment. Sergeant John F. Chambers 
of company E was among the slain. Schofield, with the army 
from Columbia, began to arrive about 11 p. m., and leaving 
our division, now confronting Hood's entire army, in position, 
moved north, driving the rebel cavalry from the pike, the 
wagon train following, just as it began to show light in the 
east, the last of the wagons crossed a bridge at the north edge 
of the town. Our division swung back in line of battle across 
the pike and became the rear guard as the train moved off rap- 
idly and cleared the way. Lane's (our brigade) and Con- 
rad's (formerly Harken's) swung into the pike, leaving Op- 
dyke's the rear guard. This order was kept, holding the ene- 
my in check until we reached the heights, about three miles 
south of Franklin. Flere Cpdyke moved to the ins.de of the 
works being built, Lane and Conrad moving back gradually 
from one position to another until nearly one-third of a mile 

34 



HISTORY COllPAXY E, TVVENTY-SIXTFI O. V. V. I. 

in front of the hastily constructed fortifications. Here, through 
a blunder that General Schofield should not escape by charg- 
ing it to others, as we were in plain sight and had been on 
extreme duty without cooked food of any kind for thirty-two 
hours, and every soldier in the line knowing we were in a 
false position, our two brigades of the division that had pro- 
tected his rear saved the entire tram, fought the battle of Spring 
Mil! and stood guard during the night while the army and 
train moved on. To be left on the plains without works and 
both flanks exposed was a gross error. The 26th Ohio was 
the extreme right of this exposed line upon the plain. We 
saw the solid lines of Hood's army as it advanced. We held 
this position but a short time. Those to the left of us being 
more advanced, owing to the lay of the ground, than we, were 
struck and broken, we fell back to the main line. Company E 
was less than 200 yards to the right of the Carter House and 
the main line was not broken at this point. We fought with 
other troops that occupied the works when we reached them 
Here the enemy was repulsed. A short distance to our left, 
near the Carter House, ihey had gained part of our line. The 
26th, under orders from Captain Clark, moved or closed to 
the left to aid in repelling them from this place. Our lines, 
Vv'ith the other trcops in the v/orks, formed m ranks four or 
five deep, the rear men loading and passing the guns to those 
in front, and the firing '^vas constant until long after dark, when 
Hood ceased his efforts to make his lodgment permanent and 
firing gradually ceased. Vanhorn in his hiotory states (\''ol. 
2, page 202) : "The defensive fire Avas so rapid from 4 p. 

35 



HISTORY COMPANY E. TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

m. to nightfall that it was difficult to supply the troops with 
ammunition. One hundred wagon loads of artillery and in- 
fantry ammunition were used from the 4th corps train alone." 
Company E had one man wounded. In view of the fact that 
General J. D. Cox, in his writing on the battle, has left the 
impression that the two brigades doing outpost duty continued 
their retreat past the main line to the river, I feel that in jus- 
tice to those brigades (and more especially to company E, 26th 
and company D, 65th Ohio, both Morrow County com- 
panies), I should say a few words more. I have never yet 
seen in any official report a single statement justifying his posi 
tion. Cox on that day v/as in command of the 23rd corps. 
It was his line that was broken at the Carter House and it was 
Opdyke's brigade of our division that, without orders, started 
the countercharge which, with the assistance of Lane's com- 
rades and part of the 23rd corps, reestablished the continuity 
of the line. Either of those three brigades, called Sheridan's 
old division,* have more regiments listed among Fox's three 
hundred than has the entire corps commanded on that occasion 
by Cox. When we started from our first position, exposed on 
the plain, it became necessary for us to make speed and clear 
the field in front of our main line that our men in the works 
might open fire. In this hasty retreat it was but natural for the 
men to incline to the left or east toward the pike or road by 
which v/e had retreated from Columbia, and some of the ex- 



*Major General Slieridan was the first commander of the 2nd 
Division 4th A. €., and was followed in the order named by Generals 
Newton, Wagner and Elliott. It was commonly known in the army 
as "Sheridan's old Division." 

36 



HISTORY COMPANY E, TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

treme left of our regiment reached the works near the Carter 
House and found them already vacated by our troops and oc- 
cupied by the enemy, and two or three of company B were 
taken prisoners after reaching the main line. Of these. Sergeant 
David Bragg, now living in Columbus, Ohio, and one of the 
oldest railroad mail clerks now in the service, was one. From 
the recent call for volunteers and the draft, quite a large as- 
signment of new troops had been made to some of the regi- 
ments in Lane's and Conrad's brigades. (Our regiment re- 
ceived none.) These new troops reached us v,'hile on the re- 
treat from Pulaski but a few days before. They had never 
been drilled and it is probable that a large share of them may 
have continued their flight beyond the main line. Opdyke's, 
Lane's and Conrad's brigades (2nd division, 4th army corps) 
lost more men than the entire other four divisions of infantry 
and the cavalry corps that was present, and as a rule, if you 
follow the trail of blood, you are keeping close to the fighting 
line. 

The veterans of that old division, whose well-tried cour- 
age shone forth in historic grandeur, it is not overpraise to say 
were practically panic-proof. Opdyke was in the direct line 
of retreat, and on the same reasons given by Cox and others 
for the break in the line at the Carter House, he (Opdyke) 
with no line of works to protect them would certainly have 
been "carried away" if the flight of Lane and Conrad had 
continued to the river. The men of the 26th were called from 
the lines and we crossed the river before midnight and con- 
tinued our march, arriving at Nashville December 1st, near 

37 



HISTORY COMPANY E, TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. r. 

noon, where we made coflee and lay down to rest for the 
first time since the morning of November 29 th. In the even- 
ing company E was called to tear clown some buildings in 
front of our established line and to build works during the 
night. We remained at this line until the battle of Nashville, 
December 15th and 1 6th. December 9th Captain Wm. 
Clark Vv'as promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, First Lieutena )t 
Phillips M. Ogan to Captain and Sergeant Walden Kelly 
to First Lieutenant. The first day of the battle, the 4th corps, 
leaving a detail to hold the works, moved to the right, at- 
tacked the enemy, driving them from their fortified position. 
The 26th Ohio was left in our main line of works, deployed 
to a division front or nearly half a mile. Our instructions were 
to hold them. We were not engaged the first day. On the 
morning of the second day's battle, December 1 6th, before 
daylight, we moved to position in the front line of the brigade 
and at daylight moved toward the Brentwood Hills, driving 
the enemy's outposts and establishing our lines under easy En- 
field rifle range of their fortified line. Under a heavy artillery 
and infantry fire w^e held position until about 3 p. m., when 
we were instructed to prepare ten rounds for rapid firing, at a 
given signal to commence and at a second signal, to be given 
as we exhausted the ninth round, we were to charge with 
loaded guns and capture the works on our front. These in- 
structions were literally carried out, a heavy per cent of the 
enemy being captured in their works. We pursued rapidly 
until dusk. Early in the morning of the 1 7th we were in pur- 
suit, the 4th corps in the lead on the direct line of Hood's re- 

38 



HISTORY COMPANY E. TWK.N'TY-SIXTH O. V. V. T. 

treat. Thus in midwinter, following as rapidly as possible, 
the bridges were all destroyed, and flooded streams delayed 
the pursuit, whidh was continued until January 1, 1865. The 
broken and disorganized army of Hood's crossed the Tennessee 
River at Florence, Ala. The latter part of the campaign 
was done by us on short rations; three days to last five were 
the orders. Our line of march was changed to Huntsville, 
Ala., where we arrived January 7, 1865, and remained enjoy- 
ing a well-earned season of rest until March 15. Soon after 
arriving Captain Ogan rejoined his company and Lieutenant 
Kelly was temporarily placed in command of company F. 
This proved to be permanent. On February 28th he was 
commissioned captain and assigned to said company after hav- 
ing served three years and over eight months in company F, 
and, as it proved, after all our fighting was over. In March 
we (the 4th army corps), moved to East Tennessee by rail via 
Chattanooga and Knoxville to Bulls Gap, thence marched 
repairing and rebuilding the railroad northeast toward Rich- 
mond, Va. While at this work, near Greenville, Tenn., we 
received the news of Lee's surrender. That night was spent 
hilariously cheering and singing that old familiar piece, "Go 
Tell Aunt Rhoda the Old Gray Goose Is Dead." The fol- 
lowing morning I doubt if there was enough ammunition in 
the cartridge boxes of the men in our division to have made a 
respectable skirmish. Soon afterward Johnston surrendered to 
Sherman and the 4th corps was ordered by rail to Nashville, 
where we expected to be mustered out. May 9th the corps 
passed in review before General Thomas and received his con- 

39 



HISTORY COMPANY E. TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

gratulatory order on the 10th. About the 1st of June it be- 
came the talk of the camp that our corps would probably be 
sent to the Mexican frontier on account of the Maximilian gov- 
ernment which foreign powers were trying to establish there. 
Strong protests were made by both officers and men, feehng 
that we had fulfilled the terms of our enlistment, "three years 
or during the war," but to no avail. June 16th the command 
started. Just before starting all who had less than ninety day's 
to serve were mustered out. The 97th Ohio infantry of our 
brigade came under this order. Fifty-six of their men, who had 
more than the specified time yet to serve, were transfered to 
the 26th, company E receiving her share of them. The com- 
mand moved by rail to Johnsonville, Tenn., thence, by steam- 
boats down the Tennessee, Ohio and .Mississ.ppi Rivers to 
New Orleans, La., by ocean steamers to the Matagorda Bay, 
landing at Indianola, since destroyed by a storm similar to 
the one a few years ago at Galveston. We marched about 
thirty-five miles and camped on the Plasadore, about July 20th. 
Here we remained. Nothing especially interesting or eventful 
worth relating took place — no drill, except dress parade. 
Guard and fatigue duty was reduced to the minimum, until 
mustered out October 2 1 . We started on the home trip the 
24lh. On account of storms and an unsafe vessel we ran into 
the harbor at Galveston and remained four days, were trans- 
ferred to a safer vessel and arrived at New Orleans November 
4th. We came up the Mississippi to Cairo on the steamer 
Ruth, the largest vessel then plying the river; by rail (freight 
cars) via Matoon, 111., Terra Haute and Indianapolis, Ind. 

40 



HISTORY COMPAXY E. TWEXTY-SIXTH O. V. V. T. 

From there we took passenger coaches to Columbus, Ohio. 
The enlisted men received their pay and discharges in the same 
barracks that we had built when the regiment organized in 
June, 1861. The commissioned officers were held one day 
later to turn over the official records and make final settlement, 
arriving at home near the middle of November, 1865. 

Discrepancies appear in both the Rebellion Official Rec- 
ords and Roster of Ohio Soldiers. Some of them, when prop- 
erly explained, show to the reader the honest intention of the 
compiler or author. I call attention to two cases: 

First, General George D. Wagner, commanding 2nd bri- 
gade, 2nd division, 4th army corps. The 26th was in sa;d 
brigade. In his official report covering the entire Atlanta 
campaign. May 3, to September 20, 1854, he reports ten 
officers killed and wounded in the 26th Ohio regiment. 

The Oihcial report of Major Noris T. Peatman, com- 
manding the regiment at the close of said campaign, reports one 
officer. Lieutenant Piatt, killed, and five officers, viz. : Major 
Peatman, Captain Baldwin, Lieutenants Renick, Hoge and 
Foster wounded — si.\ in all. During said campaign the com- 
pany and regimental official records were left far in the rear 
and not seen until after the campaign closed. During this 
period temporary reports were made almost daily on just such 
scraps of paper as were available — leaves from memorandum 
books, etc. In the continual skirmish or battle many officers 
and men were temporarily disabled by wounds and in the 
daily reports would be included in the list of casualties . In 
the official report, made at close of the campaign, only those 

41 



HISTORY COMPANY E, TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

whose disabilities compelled a continued absence were re- 
ported. 

Second, m the Roster of Ohio Soldiers: Company E 
26th Ohio, is shown to have had two first lieutenants from 
December 9, 1864, to February 28, 1865— Kelly and Os- 
ier. The former was present (at date of commission) with the 
regiment and was mustered. Osier was wounded June 27, 
1864, at Kenesaw and was still in the hospital, at or near tlie 
time Kelly was commissioned captain and assigned to com- 
pany F. He (Osier) joined the regiment, was mustered and as- 
signed to company E. He remained but a short time, his wound 
still in bad condition and continued so, and he was com- 
pelled to have his leg amputated twenty or twenty-five years 
later. He died m Columbus, Ohio, a few years ago. In 1 890 
I did considerable careful estimating as to losses and percen- 
tage of losses in the 26th Ohio and wrote Colonel William F. 
Fox the results of my study. I here insert a copy of his reply : 

"Albany, N. Y., June 18, 1890. 
"Capt. Walden Kelley, Osborn, Mo. : 

"Dear Comrade — Your interesting letter of the 9th was 
read with pleasure and in the next edition of 'Regimental 
Losses' I will insert on page 32 : 

" 'Twenty-sixth Ohio, Wood's division, number engaged 
362, killed 52, percentage killed 14.' 

"This percentage, however, already appears, although in 
a somewhat different form, on page 36, the loss being one of 
the severest in the war. 

42 



HISTORY COMPANY K. TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

"I was pleased with the perfect analysis you made of the 
enrollment of your regiment, for it indicates that among the 
readers of Regimental Losses there are those who catch the 
idea involved in the question of enrollment, and who understand 
the argument I was trymg to make. Had I known that the 
enrollment of the Twenty-sixth was capable of such an exten- 
sive boiling down, I would have gone over the names myself, 
and, as a result, would have assigned it a page among the 
'three hundred fighting regiments.' As it is, I will try to 
put it there in the next edition. I will also msert on page 1 3 : 

" 'Twenty-sixth Ohio, Newton's division. Fourth corps, 
1,161 enrolled, 122 killed, 10.5 per cent.' 

"A further study of the matter leads me to think that the 
Twenty-sixth must have lost 60 in killed and mortally wounded 
at Chickamauga but as this number includes some whose exact 
fate will never be known, I will have to leave the number, 
for the present, at 52, which is all that can be officially proved. 
If I remember rightly, however, this number includes two or 
three of the missing men in company E, whose names were 
mentioned in your letter. 

"The Twenty-sixth Ohio was a fighting regiment, and its 
grand record at Chickamauga has given it a foremost place in 
the heroic annals of the war. The figures for its loss on that 
field tell better than any high flown rhetoric of the desperate 
stand made by that gallant little battalion. Will attempt no 
compliments here, for I have no words which can add any- 
thing to the mute record of the figures which I have already 
recorded in connection with its name. 

43 



HISTORY COMPANY E, TWENTY-SIXTH O. V. V. I. 

"Perhaps your old comrades of the Twenty-sixth may be 
interested to know how the other regiments of their division 
fared on that hard fought field. I enclose a memorandum of 
the casualities in General Wood's division, and have added 
the figures for the number which each regiment carried into 
the fight. These figures indicate that the hottest fire along the 
line was concentrated on the position held by the Twenty-sixth 
Ohio. If any other regiment faced a hotter fire, it must have 
been from behind breastworks or some equivalent protection. 

"I think the losses in Wood's division were st.ll larger than 
these percentages indicate, for the number present seems to have 
been taken from the morning report, and so includes the non- 
combatants, together with others who, although borne on the 
mornmg report as present for duty, never carried a musket. I 
see that the Eighth Indiana battery reported 134 present, but 
I never saw a battery take that many men into action. And 
the Eighth Indiana had been knocking around a good deal be- 
fore it reached Chickamauga. 

"Well, those were heavy losses, but they saved the day. 
I know there are many who call Chickamauga a Confederate 
victory, and the Johnnies fought hard enough to entitle them 
to one. But those two armies marched out for a prize. That 
prize was Chattanooga. 'You'uns' won it. and held it. 
'They'uns' lost it. 

"I hope your regimental reunion will be a pleasant one, 
and that your reunions may be well attended for many years 
to come. With kind regards for all old comrades of the Army 
of the Cumberland (for my regiment served in the Army of 

44 



HISTORY COMPAXV E. TWKNTY-SiXTH O. V. V. I. 

the Cumberland part of the time), I remain 

"Yours in F., C. and L., 

WILLIAM F. FOX." 

The author makes no claim to being a writer or in any 
way qualified to prepare a historic sketch of this character for 
publication. He has made this attempt as a duty and a labor 
of love. The space allotted does not permit of an extended 
and complete article, such as the company's service Vk'ould 
justify. Laboring daily, it is between days and with the lim- 
ited records at his command, largely from memory, that it is 
produced. Having been present with the company in all its 
campaigns, battles and marches until its last battle was over, 
no one. living or dead, had better opportunities of knowing 
than he. 

I have avoided individual praise or special mention. 
There is glory enough for all. Let it be the common inher- 
itance of company E. 

WALDEN KELLY. 
Osborn, Missouri, September 1st, 1909. 



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